Vehicle-wheel



(No Model.) J'. A. MORSMAN 8u E. H. HIGBY.

Y VEHICLE WHEEL.

No. 425,898. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

UNITED STATES JOHN ALEXANDER MORSMAN AND EDWARD H. HIGBY, OF MAlLE'lON,

KANSAS.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,898, dated April15, 1890. Application filed January 18, 1890- Serial No. 337,318. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that we, JOHN ALEXANDER MORSMAN and EDWARD H. I-IIGBY,citizens of the United States, residing at Mapleton, in the county ofBourbon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vehicle-Vheels; and we do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification,and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

VThe present invention has relation to that class of vehicle-wheels forwhich a patent was granted to us November 19, 1SS9,N0.415,117, and isdesigned as an improvement thereon, the object of the invention being toimprove the construction of the wheel, whereby a Wood center or core maybe employed, which is driven into the center of the hub and afterwardbored out the required diameter to receive the ordinary thimble-skein orbox, which is wedged into it as in the ordinary wooden hub, thus withcomparatively little trouble adapting the hub to skeins or boxes ofvarying sizes or diameters and the consequent decrease in the cost ofmanufacture.

A further object of the invention is to improve the wheel in the severaldetails of construction, whereby a cheaper, stronger, and more durablewheel is provided that is equally adapted for use upon spindles and allother places where a Wheel is required and found useful, these severalobjects above enumerated being attained by the constructionsubstantially as shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying diawings,\vliich form a part of this speciiication,Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of the wheel, showing thewood center or core, thimble-skein or box, and the axle in position;Fig. 2, an outer face view of the wheel, showing one of the iiangedplates partly broken away; Fig. 3, an inner side view of one of theplates; Fig. 4, a detail view in perspective of one of the wedgeblocksFig, 5, a sectional view taken on line of Fig. l.

In describing the construction of our invention by reference to thedrawings, the hub, as in the former patent, hereinbefore referred to,

consists, principally, of a main casting, which comprises a centrallongitudinal sleeve of any desired length and diameter, as shown at A.This sleeve at or near its center is cast with an annular orcircumferential body B, which is .of slightly-tapering form, commencingat a point from the laterally-extending annular ange a and decreasing inthickness as it approaches the outer edge or periphery of the body. Thistapering form of the body B is deemed preferable lfor some purposes andfor some classes of wheels; but the taper of the body maybe dispensedwith when found necessary or desirable.

The annular flanges a are cast with the body B about one-third thedistance of the length thereof when viewed in cross-section, as shown inFig. l, thereby leaving a space b between the flange and the sleeve toallow access to the nut c upon the screw-threaded end of the spokes C ofthe wheel, also to admit the wedge-blocks to enter. The spokes C, whichpass through holes in the anges a, rest in grooved seats d, which extendradially upon the sides of the body B from the periphery thereof to theiianges.

The clamping-plates D E are preferably of circular form and aresubstantially alike, the necks or iianges of the plates being ofsufficient length to protect the parts which they inclose, and toprevent mud, dust, and the like from falling on the nut or other vpartsinclosed by the necks or iianges, which would find its way into the boxor thimble and thereby create undue friction. The clampingplates areeach formed with an opening e to receive its respective wedge -block F,said opening extending also through the necks or 'lianges f,'for theready insertion of said wedgeblock, which is held therein by a headedrod g, passing through the same, said rod also passing through the bodyB and the opposite one of the clamping-plates, a nut h engaging with thescrew-threaded end of the rod. The interior sides of the clamping-platesD E have rabbeted faces 71,', these faces overlapping the iianges a,rods i', which pass through both the body B and the plates, holding thelatter firmly in place, as do also the rods g, the former mentioned rodshaving screwthreaded ends to receive nuts 7c.

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The clamping-plates D E have upon their inner face radial grooves Z,which correspond in form to the grooves d and together form seats forthe spokes, the shape of the grooves corresponding with that of the endsof the spokes.

When the spokes C are in position and seated in the grooves d of thebody B, and the plates D E are drawn tightly againstthe spokes, With thegrooves Z fitting over the .outer half thereof, the drawing of theseplates toward each other and against the spokes by means of the rods t'and the screw-nuts lc, by which they are entirely surrounded, preventsany vibration of the spokes at points where they are weakened byscrew-threading or riveting, thereby rendering the spokes much `strongerand more durable and less liable to break at their screw-threaded orriveted ends.

The rods g, which pass through the Wedge blocks F, serve to draw theblocks inwardly, and thereby wedge themselves between the outerperiphery of the sleeve A and the clamping-plates, which bind themfirmly together and form a perfect and rigid connection between the two.The sleeve A is cast upon its inner side with one or more feathers m,which are preferably V-shaped, as shown in Fig. 5, and may extend theentire length of the sleeve, or only a portion of its length, as founddesirable, and, if preferred, the feathers may be of any shape foundmost practical for the purpose, which is to prevent a wooden core,

as shown at G, from turning around in the sleeve. The feathers arepreferably made V- shaped for the reason that the feather or featherswill out their own way into the wood as the core is being driven intothe sleeve.

This wooden core we consider one of the essential features of ourinvention, as the sleeve by the wooden core can be adapted tothimbleskeins or boxes of different diameters. In applying the woodencore to the sleeve a solid piece of Wood is first taken and driven intothe sleeve and is held from turning therein by the feathers hereinbeforedescribed, after which the core is bored out the proper size to receivethe 'ordinary thimble-skein or box, as shown at H, into which may beinserted the axle I or spindle, as the case may be.

'The advantage of the employment of the wooden core is that it removesthe great expense in the manufacture, as heretofore it was usuallynecessary to bore out the metal hubs to adapt them to fit thimble-skeinsor boxes of varying sizes and diameters, while with the wooden core theskein or box, which comes already fitted with the spindle, can be wedgedin the wooden core as in wooden hubs. The practical advantage of suchWooden core will be at once apparent fromthe fact that it is a very easytask to bore out the wooden core to fit any skein or box. It is evidentthat either bolts or rivets may be used for connecting the partstogether, and many modifications may be made in our invention in theseveral details of construction without departing from the principlethereof, as we reserve the right to make such changes or modificationsas would come within the scope of ordinary mechanical skill.

A Wheel constructed in accordance with our invention possesses both avery markeddegree of strength, durability, and wear, and wearing looseof the spokes by any strain or hard usage of the wheel, and consequentrattle of the spokes, is entirely avoided.

Having now fully describediour invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secu re by Letters Patent, is- Y l. In a vehicle or otherwheel, a `central sleeve cast upon its interior with feathers and havinga circumferential body to which the spokes are attached, and independentclamping-plates connected to said body, in combinationwith a woodenAcore fitting into the sleeve, and a thimble-skein or box Within thecore, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a vehicle or other wheel, the spokes and clamping plates, incombination with wedge-blocks enteringopenings in the plates, andscrewrods andnuts for drawingthe wedgeblocks toward the center ofthe'hub,substan tially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a vehicle or other Wheel, the combination, with a central bodyhaving upon its sides radial grooves to form seats for the spokes, oftwo clamping-plates having corresponding grooves to fit over the spokesand hold them in position, substantially as and for the purpose setforth,

In testimony that we claim the v4above we have hereunto subscribed Yournames in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

G. J. MCQUAID, y W. L. VAN DoLAP.

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